"The pig is a magnificent animal and really the pioneer on your holding. He will eat anything, and in his efforst to find food he will plow land, clear undergrowth, and devour all surpluses, even your dishwashing water. As William Cobbett wrote in his Cottage Economy: 'In short, without hogs, farming could not go on; and it never has gone on in any country in the world. The hogs are the great stay of the whole concern. They are much in small space; they make no show, as flocks and herds do; but without them, culitvation of the land would be a poor, a miserable barren concern.'"


We have officially named our two lovely hogs "Pork and Bean". Conventional farm wisdom about not naming animals destined for the table is always dashed by the congenial pig. How can you NOT name an animal so personable. Bean in particular has this knowing and gentle look in her eye....she seriously gazes. I can't explain it very well, but suffice to say, you can easily find yourself squating in the dirt looking deeply into her eyes....loosing all track of time, at peace with all of this silly little earth.

I regret to inform you that our sweet corn crop has passed away.

I wept. You may as well.

But not for too long, because we are going to buy some in to make up the lack. No one, and I mean no one should have to go through a summertime without hot butter and sticky sweet corn dribbling down their chin.

The deer love it, and we don't have an electric fence this year. Next year perhaps. Maybe we will surround it with a pit-bull pit next summer. There are always adjustments to make. The corn stalks made a delicious treat for the pigs and sheep and goats.